Building covering



Aug. 10, 1937. o. J. KUHN BUILDING COVERING Filed May 11, 1956 INVENTUR Patented Aug. 10, 1937 UNETFIED STATES PATENT oFricE BUILDING COVERING Otto J. Kuhn, Syracuse, N. Y. Application May 11, 1936, Serial No. 78,989

16 Claims. (01. 108-7) This invention relates to improvements in building coverings comprising pliable shingles and pertains more particularly to the structure of the shingles'and to the manner of laying the '5 same.

The main objects of this invention are to provide a covering for sides or roofs of dwellings or other buildings which includes individual shingles fabricated from sheets .of suitable waterlo proof material wherein said shingles are of improved design, that they may be laid with a minimum expenditure of time, labor and materials; wherein the exposed portions of each shingle will be securely maintained in their proper relation 35 with the adjacent shingles and without exposing any of the fastening means to the weather, and wherein the lower exposed edges of each shingle provide a variegated shade or a contrasting color effect for providing a covering of novel and improved appearance.

Other objects and advantages pertaining to the specific form of the shingles and to the method of laying the same will more fully appear from the following description taken in connection with '25 the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of one of my novel i shingles; before folding.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view on an enlarged scaletaken on line 2--2, Figure 1, the

30 extension portion of the shingle being shown folded beneath the adjacent body portion of the shingle to form a retrovertible flap.

- Figure 3 is a plan View of a plurality of my improved shingles mounted in cooperative relation '35 with each other to form a covering for the side of a building or similar surface with certain portions thereof broken away and in section.

Figure 4 is'a plan view of a portion of a sheet of water-proof material showing the manner of 40 cutting the shingles therefrom.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 1 illustrating a slightly modified form of my improved shingle.

The shingles comprising the covering construc- 45 tion illustrated in the drawing are identical in construction and, as hereinbefore stated, these shingles are preferably formed from a single sheet of flexible water-proof material such as felt or a similar tenacious fabric, impregnated with as- 50 phaltum or equivalent water-proofing substance in which latter may be incorporated a wearing surface of finely comminuted gravel or other suitable material to' better resist wear.

These shingles, as shown more clearly in Fig- 55 ures 1 and 4, are preferably made in the form of a trapezoid. Each of the shingles comprises a main substantially fiat bodyportion I having its opposite longitudinal edges 2 and 3 substantially parallel, while its opposite end edges 4 and 5 are disposed at an angle to each other, one of the end edges as 4, being straight and disposed at right angles to the longitudinal center and also to the opposite lengthwise edges of the shingle. The other end edge as fiisprovided with an intermediate portion 5 disposed diagonally. with reference to the longitudinal center and opposite lengthwise edges of the shingle. The lower longitudinal edge 3 of each shingle is provided with a pair of extensions 1 and 8 normally projecting from the main body and extending along the lower edge from either end of the shingle inwardly; The length of one of the projections as 7 adjacent the end 5 is substantially equal to the amount of side lap of adjacent shingles of each course, while the length of the extension E is substantially equal to one half the distance from extension 1 to the end 4 of the shingle.

The extension 8 is adapted to be folded inwardly beneath the adjacent portionof the main body l of the shingle, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, along a line 8', Figure 1, substantially parallel with the lower edge of extension I. When the extension 8 is thus folded beneath the body of the shingle, it provides a retrovertible flap which is spaced from the body of the shingle to form a groove or recess 9 for the reception of the extension 1 of the adjacent shingle of the same course. The extension 1, as shown, has the lower edge '1 thereof terminating a relatively short distance above the lower edge 8' of the flap, that is, the distance the lower edge 1' is spaced inwardly from the outer longitudinal edge 8 of the flap or underfolded extension 8, is substantially equal to the thickness of the shingle 40 material so that when adjacent shingles of the same course are laid in lapping relation with each other with the extension 1 of one shingle positioned in the recess 9 of an adjacent shingle, the lower longitudinal edges of "the flaps 8 of said adjacent shingles will be'in substantial alignment with each other. i

The portion ll] of the lower edge of each shingle which lies intermediate the extensions 1 and 8 terminates some distance above the lower lon- 1 gitudinal edges of the extensions 1 and 8 when said latter extension is in its folded position, so that'when the shingles are laid in courses with the shingles of one course in overlapping relation with the shingles of an adjacent course, the 5 vol are cut in pairs with the shingles of each pair arranged transverseli of the sheet in reverse order to each other so that the ends 5 are formed from the central portion of the sheet wliile the longitudinal sides of the sheet form the ends 4 of the shingles; The extensions I and 8 of each shingle are cut from the opposite corners of another shingle, thus providing the upper edge 2 of each shingle adjacent the ends 5 and 4 with reeesses II and I2 complementary to the extensions I I and 8 respectively.

It will, therefore, be seen that the inner ends of-the recess vII and extension I are in alignment with each other'transversely of the shingle body I while the inner ends of the recess I2 and extension, 8.likewise align with'each other transversely of thebody. As will hereinafter be more apparent, these recesses provide ample guide means for determining theamount of desired side lap of adjacent shingles of the same course upon each other. :Alsothey :do not detract from the appearance of the structure as a whole when the shingles have been laid for the reason that recesses II and I2 of each shingle are concealed by shingles of the next succeeding course, while the inner ends of extensions I and 3 align with the ends 4 of the adjacent shingles of the same course and of the next preceding course respectively. It is desirable that the end '5 of each shingle be provided with a notch or indicia I3 which, as shown in Figures 1 and 4, is formed in-tthe lowerzportion of the diagonally disposed portion. 5- in slightly spaced relation :to the'portion '6' to provideagauge means for determining the amount of head lap of the shingles of one course with .the shingles of: the adjacent course.

As hereinbefore stated, myenovel shingles are adapted to :befllaid incourses from the bottom upwardly and those of each course are laid from the lefthand side of the siding or roofing with their sides 3, lowermost-and their opposite edges 2 uppermost thus bringing the end edge 4 of each shingle at the left hand side and the diagonal end 5 at the righthand side of each course.

It will be seen, therefore, that when laying the shingles to form a :covering structure, the lower lefthand shingle is first placed in operative position with its straight left hand edge 4 aligned with the "corresponding edge of the underlying structure and itsqlower or. butt edge 3 aligned with the corresponding, lower edge of said struc- {'60 ture afterkwhich a nailas I4 is driven through the upper left hand corner of the shingle and a second nail I5 is driven through the lower right hand corner of the shingle in more'or less spaced relation to the lower edge I of the extension I.

(.65 The distancethe nail-I5 is spaced from said edge I is at deast slightly-greater than the transverse width of the under-folded portion of the extension 8sothat theextensionB of the next shingle may be readily inserted beneath the extension I .70 of, the first shingle.

i. The nextadjacent shingle of the same course is thenybrought into position by inserting the extension 8 :thereof beneath the extension I of the first shingle so .that the extension I of the first shinglewi-ll lieinthe recess -9 of the second iota loo shingle. The second shingle is then adjusted lengthwise of the course to bring the end 4 thereof in alignment with the inner ends of extension I and recess II of the first shingle after which a nail l4 or other suitable fastening means is driven through the upper left hand corner of the second shingle and through the adjacent under-lying portion of the first shingle. The right hand end of the second shingle is then secured in place by the insertionof a nail or the like through the lower right hand comer of said shingle in the manner described above for the first shingle.

In like manner, each successive shingle of the lower course is placed in the operative position and secured in place along the entire length of the siding or roofing. It will be understood that during the laying of the shingles of the first course, additional nails or other suitable fastening means may, if desired, be inserted through the lower edge portion of each shingle.

' In beginning the laying of the next or second course of shingles, a short section shingle I'I formed by removing the left hand end portion of my novel shingle, corresponding in length longitudinally of the shingle to that of the length of the extension 8 and recess I2, is first secured by nails I4 and [5 to the left hand side of the underlying structure. shingle section is laid with the lower edge thereof in predetermined head lap relation with the first shingle of the first course with the notch I3 thereof in alignment with the upper adjacent edge .of the first shingle of the first course in a manner WhiCh'iS well known to those skilled in the art to establish a beginning for the second course I The first complete left hand shingle of the second course is theneplaced in operative position by first inserting the outer left hand end portion of the extension 8 thereof beneath the extension I of the shingle section II. The first. shingle of the second course is then adjusted longitudinally of the course to bring the end 4 thereof insubstantial alignment with the inner ends of the extension I and recess H of shingle section II and with the notch l3 in registration with the adjacent portion of the upper edge of the second shingle of the first course. The first complete shingle of the second "course is then secured in position 'by nails Hand 15. i

It will be observed that inasmuch as the length of the intermediate lower edge portion III of each shingle is substantially equal tothe length of the extension 8, whenthe end 4 of the first shingle of the second course aligns with the inner ends of extension I and-recess ll of the shingle section ll of thesame course, the inner end of the extension of said first shingle of the second course Will abut against the end 4 of the second shingle of the first course.

After the first shingle of the second course has been laid, the second shingle of said course is then brought into position by first inserting the extension 8 thereof beneath the extension I of the first shingle of'the second course- The end of the extension l of each shingle, the end l of the second shingle of the second course will also align with the inner end of extension I of the first shingle of said course,while the notch l3 will align with the upper adjacent edge of the third shingle of the first course.

After the second shingle of the second course has thus been laid, the third shingle and the succeeding shingles in said second course -may likewise be laid and secured in proper alignment with each other and in proper head lap relation with the shingles of the first course, these operations for the several courses being continued throughout the length of the covering structure. It will now be clearly understood that I have produced a shingle of simple, economical construction in that they are cut with practically no waste and may be readily assembled upon'the supporting structure therefor in proper order without extra aligning means and that I have provided a shingle that, owing to its peculiar formation, is securely fashioned toithe-underlying structure and to each other without exposing the fastening means to the weather.

Furthermore, it will be observed that the transverse Width of the left hand end portion of each shingle exposed to the weather is appreciably greater than that of the right hand end portion of said shingle. Each course of shinglesis thereby provided with a distinct irregular line along the base or lower edge thereof. This pronounced irregular base line, together with the variegated or contrasting shading provided by the lower edge portions of the under-turned extension 8, and by the intermediate cut-away or recessed portion ID of each shingle, provides the finished structure with a unique appearance which resembles to a certain degree, a thatched covering. Although I have shown and described a substantially trapezoidal shingle having the upper and lower sides thereof arranged in parallel relation with each other and the end 5 having a portion 5' extending upwardly at an inward inclination to the lower side thereof, it is obvious that the shingles may be of substantially rectangular form as shown in Figure 5, whereby both ends as 4 and 4' are arranged substantially normal to the longitudinal sides of the shingle. In the rectangular structure, the length of extension 1 is substantially equal to the length of the extension of the shingle shown in Figure 1 minus one half the difference lengthwise of the shingle between the end portions 6 and 6'. The advantage obtained in the trapezoidal form of shingle shown in Figure 1 over a substantially rectangular shingle as illustrated in Figure 5, when said shingles are formed from strips of material of equal width, resides in the increased length of the extension 1 obtained and the additional holding effect provided thereby between the extension 1 and the retrovertible flap 8.

Although the structure of my novel shingle and the method of applying the same are particularly simple, practical and efi'icient, I do not wish to be limited tothe exact construction shown as it is evident that various changes may be made in the detail construction without, departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim: 1. A substantially fiat shingle fabricated from a sheet of flexible water-proof material for a building covering, said shingle having its lower edge provided with a retroverted flap adjacent one end thereof and an extension adjacent the opposite end thereof, said extension having its lower longitudinal edge terminating in a plane at one side of the plane of the lower longitudinal edgeof said retrovertible flap.

2. A shingle as in claim 1 wherein the length of the retrovertible flap along the lower edge of the shingle is substantially equal to one half the length of the lower edge of the shingle minus said extension.

' 3. A substantially fiat shingle fabricated from a sheet of flexible water-proof material for a building covering, said shingle having its lower side provided with a retrovertible flap adjacent one end thereof, an extension adjacent the opposite end thereof and a recess portion intermediate said flap and extension, said flap and intermediate portion being of substantially equal lengths.

4. A fiat shingle of substantially trapezoidal form having its parallel edges arranged horizontally and one of its end edges disposed at right angles to its parallel edges and its other end disposed at an upward divergent angle to the rectangular end, one of the parallel sides of said shingle being provided with a retrovertible flap adjacent one end and an extension adjacent the opposite end arranged in spaced relation with.

said retrovertible flap.

5. A flat shingle of substantially trapezoidal form having its parallel edges arranged horizontally and one of its end edges disposed at right angles to its parallel edges and its other end disposed at an upward divergent angle to the lower horizontal edge, said lower edge of the shingle being provided with an extension adjacent said divergently disposed end and a retrovertible flap adjacent the opposite end arranged in spaced relation to said extension.

6. A flat shingle of substantially trapezoidal form having its parallel edges arranged horizontally and one of its end edges disposed at right angles to its parallel edges and its other end disposed at an upward divergent angle to the rectangular end, one of the parallel sides of said shingle being provided with a retrovertible flap adjacent one end, an extension adjacent the opposite end arranged in spaced relation with said retrovertible flap, and a recess portion intermediate the flap and extension.

'7. A shingle structure as in claim 6, wherein the lower longitudinal edge of the extension terminates in slightly spaced relation to the plane of the lower longitudinal edge of said retrovertible flap.

8. A building covering comprising shingles laid in courses, the adjacent ends of the shingles of each course being arranged in lapping relation and the adjacent lengthwise edges of the shingles of the several courses being also arranged in lapping relation, the lower side of the underlapping end of each shingle of each course being provided with an extension having a length substantially equal to the amount of the side lap, the opposite end of each shingle being provided with a retrovertible flap extending along its lower edge a distance equal to substantially one half the length of the exposed portion of said shingle and projecting beneath the extension of an adjacent shingle of the same course.

9. A building covering comprising substantially trapezoidal shingles laid in courses, the adjacent ends of the shingles of each course being arranged in lapping relation and the under-lapping portion being of greater width at the bottom than at the top, the lower side adjacent said under-lapping ends of the shingles of each course being provided with an extension equal in length to subistantially the amount of thesidelapof the lower edge portion of the shingle, the "opposite end of each of said shingles being provided with a retrovertible 'flap extending along the lower edge thereof and projecting beneath the extension ;-of an adjacent shingle of the same course.

10. A building covering comprising substantially trapezoidal shingles laid intcourses, the adjacent ends of the shingles of each course being arranged in lapping relation and the under-lapping portion decreasing in width from bottom to top, the lower side'adjacent said under-lapping ends of the shingles of each course being provided with an extension equal in length to sub- 'stantially the amount of the side lap of the lower edge portion of the shingle, the opposite-end of each of said shingles being provided with a retrovertible flap extending along the lower edge thereof in spaced relation to said extension and projecting beneath the extension of the under-lying 'shingleof the same course, the length of said-extension being equal to substantially one half the length of the exposed portion of the shingle.

11. A substantially fiat imperforate shingle for a building covering having its lower side provided with two extensions, one extension adjacent either end thereof and a. recess portion interme- 'diate said extensions, said extensions and recess portion being formed with the lower edges thereof substantially straight and parallel, one of said extensions and said recess portion being of substantially equal length.

12. A shingle as in claim 11, wherein the lower :gles having two extensions, one extension positioned at either, end thereof and a recess portion intermediate said extensions, the extension at the underlapping end of each shingle of each course having the lower longitudinal edge thereof of a length equal tothe amount of the side lap and terminating in a plane at one side of the plane of the lower longitudinal edge of the other extension.

15. A'building covering as in claim 14, wherein the lower edge of said shingle is. of unequal thicknessat said other extension and the recess portion, whereby theylower edge of each course has alternate light and shadow portions.

'16; A building covering as in claim 14, wherein the'length of the lower edge of said other extension and recess portion are substantially equal and the lower edge of'said shingle is of unequal thickness at said otherextension and the recess portion, whereby the lower edge of each course is formed irregular and with alternate light and shadow portions of equal length.

O'I'I'O J. KUHN. 

